Israel foils plot to kill Palestinian president

[Jim Sagle]

A HAMAS plot to assassinate Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, has been thwarted after he was tipped off by Israeli intelligence.

Abbas, who is guarded by his own security men, divides his time between his Gaza and Ramallah offices. While in the West Bank he is relatively safe, but Gaza — stronghold of Hamas and numerous rogue terrorist organisations — is a dangerous place. Shortly after his election to the presidency Abbas narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in the Gaza Strip.

A recent request to the Israeli government to let him bring in new weapons for his presidential guard was rejected by Shaul Mofaz, the outgoing Israeli defence minister.

However, the Israelis could not ignore intelligence information regarding the imminent threat to Abbas’s life. “We monitor every movement of Hamas in Gaza,” said an Israeli intelligence source. “So when we learnt that Abbas’s life was in danger, we made sure to inform him without delay.”

More at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2168494,00.html

[Kagemusha]

1. We don't even know if this is true.

I can think of a few good reasons to *say* you've saved the life of the Palestinian president, even if you have done no such thing. Far from me to try and straightjacket the Israeli government and sources within with some sort of absolute requirement to tell the truth.

[Jim Sagle]

2. As is true of any government.

[Kagemusha]

5. By no means would I single out Israel for this, certainly

But I've gotta say that poster below has a point about, if this was true wouldn't they keep it secret? Feels like Murdoch paper propaganda fed to it by a "reliable government source".

Edit: Because putting out word that Abbas is being kept alive by "the Jews" isn't healthy for him, politically, physically, anything. Saving his life does him a favor. Saying he owes your nation his life is emphatically not doing him a favor.

[ECH1969]

3. Abbas is a huge impediment to Hamas control

They are going to get rid of him one way or another.

[pretzel4gore]

4. if this was true, wouldn't they keep it quiet?

the hatred for the israelis among the palestinians says that if the israelis want something (Pres. Abbas safe) then that makes Mr Abbas, who truly is one of the most courageous public servants on earth, almost certainly more of a target for his own people(:() which you wouyld think they'd therefore keep quiet....
there's a vile element among the israeli rulers that defies basic logic - 30 years ago, i read about israelis training argentine and uruguayan death squads, and helping south africa develop its A-bomb and its anti 'terrorist' police ....why? you'd think with their history they'd be on the side of the oppressed, but noooo!